Signalling and alarm device



May 17, 1960 Filed Oct. 25, 1957 FIG. I 4

W. A. HILLIARD SIGNALLING AND ALARM DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS WILLIAM A. HILLIARD LEONARD B. SADOW ATTORNEYS W 1960 w. A. HILLIARD ETAL 2,937,271

SIGNALLING AND ALARM DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 25, 1957 INVENTORS 69 WILLIAM A. HILLIARD LEONARD B. SADOW ATTO RNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 y 17, 1960 w. A. HILLIARD 'A SIGNALLING AND ALARM DEVICE Filed Oct. 25, 1957 INVENTORS WILLIAM A. H ILLIARD ATTOR N EYS FIG. 4

United States Patent SIGNALLING AND ALARM DEVICE William A. Hilliard, Cresskill, NJ., and Leonard B.

Sadow, White Plains, N.Y., assignors to Longines- Wittnauer Watch Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Application October 25, 1957, Serial No. 692,386

5 Claims. (Cl. 25020) This invention relates to a signal or alarm device adapted to emit an audible signal of predetermined duration when the signal mechanism is actuated.

Portable, remotely controlled signalling devices that emit an audible signal or alarm when actuated by a radio signal are carried by doctors while making their rounds, by supervisory employees while in the shop or in the field, by civil defense workers, and by many other persons when away from a telephone but within range of the transmitted radio signal. Such devices comprise a small radio receiver adapted to receive a radio signal having certain predetermined characteristics assigned to the individual carrying the signal device, and an audible alarm device: that is activated when the assigned radio signal is received. On receipt of such a signal, the audible alarm device sounds and the bearer of the device is alerted to call the central station for the message intended for him. Many such alarm devices have been proposed but have been found unsatisfactory due to their relatively great weight, absence of a timing device to permit a signal of predetermined duration and various other shortcomings known to those who have worked in this field.

We have now devised an improved alarm or signal device for use in remote control signalling apparatus. Our new apparatus is characterized *by the light weight and small bulk of the signalling device, the provision of a timing device which can be adjusted to permit an audible signal of any predetermined duration, a visual indicator which shows the person carrying the device whether the device has received a signal and has been reset so that it is in condition to receive a new signal, a master switch which cuts off the power to the radio receiver when the signal device is turned 0E and is not in use so as to con serve the battery power supply of the radio receiver, and other features which will become apparent in the following description of our invention.

The alarm device of our invention comprises a main frame, a main spring, a multi-stage speed changing gear train connected to the main spring, rotatable rewinding means connected to the main spring and adapted to wind the main spring when rotated in one direction, limit stop means limiting the rotation of the main spring rewinding means, and ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain the main spring 'in the wound condition. The gear train comprises a main spring drive gear and at least three stages of speed increasing gears connected thereto. A timing cam is mounted on the shaft of the first stage of the speed changing gear train, a notched arresting drum is mounted on the shaft of an intermediate stage of the speed changing gear train, and an escape wheel is mounted on the shaft of the last stage of the speed changing gear train. A pivoted arresting lever is mounted on the main frame one end of which is adapted to engage the notched arresting drum and to prevent rotation of the gear train when thus engaged. Spring means urge the pivoted arresting lever into engagement with the notched arresting drum. Solenoid means is provided which when energized is adapted to disengage the pivoted arresting lever from the notched arresting drum. A pivoted timing lever and spring means maintaining said timing lever in contact with the timing cam are mounted on the main frame so that rotation of the timing cam moves one end of the timing lever in a reciprocating path. The reciprocating end of the timing lever is formed with a leg portion adapted to contact the pivoted arresting lever. The leg of the timing lever is adapted to maintain the arresting lever out of engagement with the notched arresting drum when the timing lever is moved by the timing cam to one end of its reciprocating path of travel and is further adapted to allow the arresting lever to engage the notched arresting drum when moved to the other end of its reciprocating path of travel. The rotation of the timing cam and the resulting reciprocating movement of the timing lever is correlated with the rotation of the notched arresting drum so that at the end of a predetermined time from the energization of the solenoid and the start of the alarm cycle the timing lever and the notched arresting drum are in position to allow the arresting lever to re-engage the notch in the arresting drum. A pivoted oscillator member is also mounted on the main frame. The oscillator assembly is provided with a pair of escapement pins adapted to engage alternately the escape wheel when said escape wheel rotates, and with striker means adapted to strike a diaphragm vibrator when said oscillator member is caused to oscillate by said escape wheel. Audible signal means comprising a diaphragm adapted to produce an audible signal when vibrated and a diaphragm vibrator connected to said diaphragm is provided. An electric switch is connected to the rewinding means, the electric switch being opened when said rewinding means isrotated in the direction to rewind the main spring against the rewinding limit stop of the limit stop means and being closed when said rewinding means is rotated in the opposite direction against the other limit stop of the limit stop means.

A visual indicator is mounted on the shaft of the first stage of the gear train in frictional engagement with said shaft, and limit stops are positioned to limit the rotation of the visual indicator. Visual indicator reset means are connected to the rewinding means and adapted to rotate said indicator means against one of said indicator limit stops when said rewinder means is rotated in the direction to wind the main spring.

Our invention will be better understood from the followingdescription of a preferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the signal device of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the interior of the signal device, namely a section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus with the top cover of the device largely removed and with various parts broken away to show the internal mechanism of the device, the view being taken generally along line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the relationship of the gear train, timing mechanism, arresting mechanism and oscillating mechanism of the device.

The portable and remotely controlled signalling device of our invention is adapted to emit an audible signal or alarm of predetermined duration when a radio signal having certain specific characteristics is received by the radio receiver associated therewith. As hereinafter more fully described, the principal'components of the device comprise a main spring and the main spring rewinding mechanism, a master off-on switch operated by the rewinding mechanism, a multi-stage speed changing gear train and oscillator assembly driven by the main spring,

an audible signal means actuated by the oscillations of the oscillator assembly, an alarm cycle timing mechanism adapted to limit the duration of the audible signal to a predetermined length of time, a solenoid energized by the radio receiver associated with the device and adapted when energized to initiate the audible alarm cycle, and a visual indicator adapted to show whether the device has emitted a signal and has not been reset.

As will be seen from the drawing, the various components of the signalling device are mounted on a main frame which comprises the horizontally disposed upper plate and lower plate 11, and the vertically disposed spacer studs 12 which connect the upper and lower plates. Moreover, as shown best in Figs. 2 and 3, the device is encased in an outer casing .13 formed of sheet metal, molded plastic, or the like.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the main spring advantageously comprises a spiral-1y wound spring contained in the main spring barrel 14, the outer end of which spiral main spring is secured to the main spring barrel and the inner end of which is secured to an axially disposed rewinding shaft 15. The main spring barrel 14 is rotatably mounted between the upper and lower plates of the main frame in bearings provided in the upper and lower plates for this purpose. The upper end of the rewinding shaft 15 is formed with a squared portion as shown in Fig. 1 which extends through the upper plate 10 and fits into a square hole 17 formed in the axially disposed ratchet wheel 18. A holding pawl 20 (shown best in Fig. 3) is pivotally mounted on the upper plate 10 and. is spring biased toward the ratchet wheel 18 to maintain it in contact with the teeth of the wheel and thereby prevent counterclockwise rotation of the wheel. A winding, switching and resetting disc 22 is positioned over the ratchet wheel 18 in axial alignment therewith. A rewinding pawl 23 is mounted on the under surface of the winding disc 22 and is spring-biased toward the ratchet Wheel 18 to maintain it in contact with the teeth of the Wheel so that clockwise rotation of the winding disc 22 will cause the ratchet wheel to rotate clockwise a like amount. As shown in Fig. 2, a hand control knob 24 is mounted on the shaft of the winding disc 22 to facilitate manual rotation of the disc 22. From the foregoing, it will be seen that clockwise rotation of the winding disc 22 causes the main spring rewinding shaft 15 to rotate and wind up the inner end of the spiral main spring, while the holding pawl 20 prevents counterclockwise rotation of the ratchet wheel 18 and thus prevents unwinding of the main spring. counterclockwise rotation of the winding disc 22 causes the rewinding pawl 23 to click over the teeth of the ratchet wheel 18 which is prevented from rotating in this direction by the holding pawl- 20. The amount that the main spring is wound up by the rotation of the winding disc 22 is greater than the amountv that the main spring is unwound during one audible alarm cycle. Over-winding of the main spring is prevented by means of a conventional friction clutch mechanism within the main spring barrel.

Limit stop means are provided to limit the rotation of the rewinding disc to about one-quarter of a revolution. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the limit stop means advantageously comprises a limit stop pin 25 extending downwardly from the lower surface of the winding disc 22 into an arcuate slot 26. formed in the upper plate of the main frame so that the limit stop pin will come up against one or the other of the ends of. the arcuate slot when the rewinding disc is rotated. Thus when the winding disc 22. is rotated in a clockwise direction the limit stop pin 25: comes up against one end of the arcuate slot which is referred. toherein as. the rewind or .off limit stop 27, and when rotated in a counterclockwise direction the limit stop pin 25 comes up against the other end of the arcuate. slot which is referred: to herein as the on limit stop 28.. The winding, switching and resetting disc 22 is formed with. an off detent recess 30. adapted to. receive an off detent spring 31 when the winding disc is rotated clockwise against the rewind or 011" limit stop, and is further formed with an on detent recess 32 adapted to receive a U-shaped portion 33 of the switch contact spring 35 when the winding disc is rotated counterclockwise against the on limit stop. As a consequence when the winding disc 22 is rotated against the oil limit stop, the off detent spring 31 engages the off detent recess 30 and thus tends to prevent the counterclockwise rotation of the winding disc. Conversely, when the winding disc 22 is rotated counterclockwise against the on limit stop, the U-shaped portion 33 of the switch contact spring engages the on detent recess 32 and thus tends to.

prevent clockwise rotation of the winding disc.

The switch contact spring 35 is a part of the master electric switch 36 that controls the flow of power from the battery power supply to the radio receiver. Thus, when the rewinding disc 22 is rotated clockwise against the off limit stop 27, the U-shaped portion 33 of the switch contact spring 35 is forced out of the on detent recess 32 as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, and as a consequence the metal switch contact pin 37 is out of electrical contact with the switch contact spring 35 and/ or the contact spring 38 thereby breaking the electrical circuit between the power supply and radio receiver. Conversely, when the rewinding disc is rotated counterclockwise against the on" limit stop 28, the U-shaped portion of the switch contact spring is received in the on detent recess 32 as shown by the solid lines in Fig. 3, and as a consequence electrical contact is established between the switch contact spring 35 and the contact spring 38 by means of the switch contact pin 37 thereby electrically connecting the power supply to the radio receiver.

A large diameter drive gear 40 is mounted on the main spring barrel 14 and is adapted to drive or rotate the wheel assemblies of a multi-stage speed changing gear train rotatably mounted between the upper and lower plates of the main frame in bearings provided in the upper and lower plates for this purpose. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, the drive gear 40 engages the small diameter gear 42 of the first wheel assembly or stage of the speed changing gear train, the large diameter gear 43 of the first stage engages the small diameter gear 45 of the second wheel assembly or stage of the gear train, and the large diameter gear 46 of the second stage engages the small diameter gear 48 of the third wheel assembly or stage of the speed changing gear train. Thus, a relatively slow speed of revolution of the drive gear 40 results in a relatively fast speed of revolution of the third wheel assembly or stage of the speed changing gear train.

A star-shaped escape wheel 50 is mounted on the shaft. of the third stage of the gear train and is adapted to drive or oscillate an oscillator assembly 52 pivotally mounted between the upper and lower plates of the main frame in bearings provided for this purpose. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the oscillator assembly comprises anoscillator plate 53 on which are mounted two escapement pins 54 adapted alternately to engage the teeth of the escape wheel 50 when the escape wheel rotates. A striker pin 55 is mounted on the upper surface of the oscillator plate 53 and is adapted to contact or strike a vibratormeans connected to the. diaphragm of the audible signal means of the signalling device.

The audible signal means advantageously comprises a diaphragm 56 mounted in a diaphragm frame 57 and held in place therein by a retainer ring 58. A diaphragm vibrator arm 59 is secured to the center of the diaphragm 56 and is disposed so that one end of the arm 59 is in position to bestruck by the striker pin 55 when the oscillator assembly is oscillated by rotation ofthe escapewheel 50. Thus, when the speed changing gear train and hence the escape wheel 50 are caused to rotate by the main spring, the teeth of the escape wheel strike or contact' first one and then the. other of the escapement pins 54 of the oscillator assembly 52. The alternate engagement of the escapement pins causes the oscillator assembly to oscillate very rapidly, and the rapid oscillation of the oscillator assembly causes the striker pin 55 to strike the diaphragm vibrator arm 59 which, in turn, causes the diaphragm 56 to vibrate rapidly and to emit an audible signal or alarm.

An arresting drum 60 formed with an arresting notch 61 is mounted on the shaft of the second stage of the gear train, and a pivoted arresting lever 62 having a foot portion 63 adapted to engage the notch 61 in the arresting drum is pivotally mounted between the upper and lower plates of the main frame in bearings provided for this purpose. A spring 64 urges the foot portion 63 of the pivoted arresting lever toward the arresting drum 60 so that the foot portion 63 tends to enter or engage the notch 61 and thus prevent clockwise rotation of the arresting drum 60. When the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever is thus engaged by the notch 61 as shown in Fig. 1, rotation of the gear train is prevented and the audible alarm means is silent.

A permeable magnetic armature 65 is mounted on the pivoted arresting lever 62 opposite the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever. A solenoid 66 is mounted in cutout portions 67 formed in the upper and lower plates as shown in Fig. land positioned so that when the solenoid is energized the armature 65 will be attracted to the pole pieces 68 thereof. The solenoid 66 is connected by wires 69 topthe radio receiver associated with the signalling device so that when the radio receives a signal of predetermined characteristics, the solenoid will be energized momentarilyand thus will move the armature 65 toward the. pole pieces 68. When the armature 65 moves as described, the arresting lever 62 pivots and the foot portion 63 thereof moves out' of engagement with the notch 61 in the arresting drum 60 as shown in Fig. 4. The arresting drum and the geartrain are then free to rotate under the urging of the main spring, and the consequent rapid rotation of the escape wheel 50 causes the oscillator assembly to oscillate rapidly which, in turn, causes the diaphragm 56 to emit an audible signal or alarm. The diaphragm 56 continues to be vibrated and to emit an audible signal until rotation of the gear train is stopped by the engagement once again of the foot portion 63 in the notch 61.

The solenoid 66 is energized for only a brief period of time upon receipt of the assigned radio signal, and when the solenoid is deenergized the armature 65 is no longer held in contact with the pole pieces 68. The spring 64 urges the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever 62 against the arresting drum 60 so that, unless special provision is made to keep the foot portion of the arresting layer out of engagement with the notch 61 in the arresting drum, the foot portion 63 will again engage the notch 61 and thereby stop the rotation of the gear train after the arresting drum has made one complete revolution. That is to say, in the absence of some supplementary means for keeping the foot portion of the arresting lever out of engagement with the notched arresting drum, the audible alarm will sound only for the length of time that it takes the arresting drum to complete one revolution. Therefore, to'prolong the duration of the audible alarm cycle a timing means is advantageously provided which is adapted to increase the period of operation of the alarm cycle from the foregoing minimum period to any pre' determined maximum period.

. The alarm cycle timing means comprises a timing cam 70 mounted on the shaft of the first stage of the gear train, a timing lever 71 pivotally mounted on the bottom plate 11 of the main frame, and a timing lever spring 72 maintaining the timing lever in contact with the timing cam. The timing cam 70 is mounted on the square portion of the shaft of the Ifirst stage of the gear train and is adapted to move one end of the pivoted timing lever 71 in a reciprocating path of travel when the gear train is rotated by the unwinding of the main spring. The reciprocating end of the pivoted timing lever 71 is provided with a leg 73 adapted and positioned to move first toward and into contact with the arresting lever 62 and then away from and out of contact with the arresting lever as the leg 73 travels from one end of its reciprocating path of travel to the other. When the leg 73 of the timing lever 71 contacts the arresting lever 62 at one end of its reciprocating path of travel, the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever is prevented from engaging the notch 61 in the arresting drum 60; and when the leg 73 is withdrawn from contact with the arresting lever 62 at the other end of its reciprocating path of travel, the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever is allowed to engage the notch 61 in the arresting drum. That is to say, when the timing lever 71 is moved in its reciprocating path of travel by rotation of the timing cam, the leg 73 of the timing lever alternately presses against the arresting lever 62 and prevents the foot portion thereof from engaging the notch 61 in the arresting drum as shown in Fig. 4, and then moves out of contact with the arresting lever 62 and allows the foot portion thereof to engage the notch 61 in the arresting drum under the urging of the spring 64 as shown in Fig. 1.

The shape of the timing cam 70 and hence the reciprocating movement of the timing lever 71 is correlated with the speed of rotation of thearresting drum 60, so that after a predetermined period of time from the start of the audible alarm cycle (i.e., upon initial energization of the solenoid 66) the leg 73 of the timing lever will be withdrawn from contact with the arresting lever 62 at the same time that the notch 61 of the arresting drum is in position to be engaged by the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever. The timing cam 70 shown in Figs. 1 and 4 of the drawing is hexagonal in shape. However, timing cams of many other desired shapes may be employed to obtain an audible alarm cycle of many desired predetermined durations. The timing cams are interchangeable with one another, and the selection and installation of a particular cam shape when the signalling device is first assembled determines the duration of the audible alarm cycle.

In addition to the audible alarm emitted by the signalling device upon receipt of the assigned radio signal, the device is provided with visual indicator means which indicates visually whether a signal has been received and an audible alarm has been sounded by the device. The visual indicator means comprises an indicator arm 75 mounted in frictional engagement on the shaft of the first stageof the speed changing gear train so that rotation of the shaft causes the visual indicator arm to rotate unless otherwise prevented. Rotation of indicator arm 75 is restricted by indicator limit stop means which comprise a ready position limit pin 76 and a signal received limit pin 77 mounted on the upper surface of the upper plate 10 of the main frame. The indicator arm 75 is connected to the winding and resetting disc 22 by means of an indicator. reset rod 78 that fits in the indicator reset hole 79 formed in the winding disc. Thus, when the winding and resetting disc 22 is rotated clockwise from the on limit stop 28 to the off limit stop 27, the indicator reset rod 78 will move the indicator arm 75 clockwise against the ready position limit pin 76 as shown in Fig. 3. On the other hand, rotation of the winding disc 22 counterclockwise from the off" limit stop to the on limit stop does not result in any movement on the part of the indicator arm 75. When the solenoid 66 is energized and the audible alarm cycle commences, the first stage of the gear train rotates counterclockwise and moves the indicator arm counterclockwise from the ready limit pin 76 to the signal received limit pin 77. However, due to the frictional engagement between the indicator arm 75 and the shaft of the first stage of the gear train, the indicator arm will come to a stop when it comes up against the signal received limit pin 77 while the gear train will continue to rotate until the audible alarm cycle is completed at the end of a predetermined period of time. As shown in Fig. 2, the outer case 13 of the Signal device is formed with an indicator view window 81 so that when the indicator arm 75 is moved against the signal received limit pin 77, the indicator disc at the end of the indicator arm is visible through the view window.

The portable signalling device of our invention operates as follows:

When not in use the signalling device should be placed in the off or inoperative condition. That is to say, the Winding, switching and resetting disc 22 is rotated clockwise so that the limit stop pin 25 is against the off limit stop 27, the off detent spring 31 is received in the off detent recess 30, the indicator arm 75 is moved against the ready position limit pin 76, and the U-shaped portion 33 of the switch contact spring 35 rests on the outer periphery of the winding disc 22. As a result the electric circuit connecting the power supply to the radio receiver is open and the device is inoperative.

The signalling device is placed in condition to receive a radio signal that will actuate the audible alarm cycle by rotating the winding disc 22 counterclockwise so that the limit stop pin 25 is against the on limit 28, and the U-shaped portion 33 of the switch contact spring 35 is received in the on detent recess 32 as shown in Fig. 3. As a result the electric circuit between the power supply and the radio receiver is completed and the device is ready for use.

On receipt of a radio signal having the special characteristics assigned to the signalling device, the solenoid .66 is energized momentarily, the armature 65 on the arresting lever 62 is moved toward the pole pieces 68' of the solenoid, the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever is disengaged from the notch 61 in the arresting drum 60, the wheel assemblies of the gear train commence to rotate, the oscillator assembly 52 oscillates rapidly, and

the audible signal means emits the audible signal or alarm. The position and direction of rotation of the arresting mechanism, the gear train and the oscillator assembly at the beginning of the alarm cycle isshown in Fig. 4 of the drawing.

Rotation of the gear train during the alarmcycle causes the indicator arm 75 mounted on the shaft of the first stage of the gear train to be rotated counterclockwise until it comes up against the signal received limit pin 77. As noted, when in this position the indicator disc at the end of the indicator arm is visible through the view window 81 formed in the outer case 13 of the signalling device and thus provides a visual indication that a radio signal has been received and an audible alarm has been sounded in response thereto.

The solenoid 66 is energized only briefly in response to the radio signal. However, the gear train continues to rotate and the audible alarm continues to sound until the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever 62 once again engages the notch 61 in the arresting drum 60 and thereby stops the rotation of the gear train. If the alarm cycle timing mechanism is not incorporated in the signalling device, the arresting lever 62 will stop the rotation of the gear train, and hence silence the audible alarm, after the arresting drum 60 has completed one revolution. When the timing mechanism is incorporated in the device, the alarm cycle will terminate only after the elapse of a predetermined period of time, namely, after the timing cam 70 has been rotated to a position at which the leg 73 of the timing lever 71 is withdrawnfrom contact with the arresting lever 62 at the same time that the arresting drum 60 has been rotated so that the notch 61 is in position to be engaged by the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever 62.

At the end of the audible alarm cycle, the foot portion 63 of the arresting lever 62 engages the notch 61 in the arresting drum 60, and the indicator arm 75 is at its signal received position beneath the view window 81.

The signalling device is prepared for the reception of a new signal by rotating the winding, switching and resetting disc 22 clockwise from the on limit stop 28 to the off limit stop 27. Clockwise rotation of the disc 22 simultaneously rewinds the main spring as previously described, switches the master switch off by forcing the U-shaped portion 33 of the switch contact spring 35 out of the on detent recess 30, and resets the visual indicator means by moving the indicator arm from signal received limit pin 77 to the ready position limit pin 76. The signalling device is now inoperative. Upon rotation of the winding, switching and resetting disc 22 counterclockwise to the on" limit stop, the device is ready to receive a radio signal and to emit an audible signal or alarm in response thereto.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have devised a novel remotely controlled signalling device that embodies many features and improvements not found in the prior art signalling devices of the type to which our invention relates.

We claim:

1. A signalling device which comprises a main spring, a main spring rewinding mechanism, a master on-andofi switch for the signalling device operated by the rewinding mechanism, a multi-stage speed changing gear train driven by the main spring, an oscillator assembly driven by the last stage of the speed changing gear train, an audible signal means actuated by the oscillations of the oscillator assembly, a gear train arresting mechanism releasably engaging an intermediate stage of the speed changing gear train and adapted when engaged to stop the rotation of the gear train, a solenoid adapted when energized to disengage the arresting mechanism and thereby initiate the audible alarm cycle, and an alarm cycle timing mechanism adapted to limit the duration of the audible signal to a predetermined length of time.

2. A signalling device which comprises a main spring, a main spring rewinding mechanism, a master on-andoff switch for the signalling device operated by the rewinding mechanism when the rewinding mechanism is rotated, a multistage speed changing gear train driven by the main spring, an oscillator assembly driven by the last. stage of the speed changing gear train, an audible. signal means actuated by the oscillations of the oscillator assembly, a gear train arresting mechanism releasably engaging an intermediate stage of the speed changing gear train and adapted when engaged to stop the rotation of the gear train, a solenoid adapted when energized to disengage the arresting mechanism and thereby initiate the audible alarm cycle, an alarm cycle timing mechanism operated by the first stage of the speed changing gear train and adapted tolimit the duration of the audiblesignal to a predetermined length of time, and a visual indicator adapted to show whether the device has emitted an audible alarm.

3. A remotely controlled signalling device which comprises a radio receiver, a main spring, a main spring rewinding mechanism, a master-on-and-ofi switch operated by the rewinding mechanism and adapted to turn the radio receiver on and off when the rewinding mechanism is rotated, a multi-stage speed changing gear train driven by the main spring, an oscillator assembly driven by the last stage of the speed changing gear train, an. audible signal means actuated by the oscillations of the oscillator assembly, a gear train arresting mechanism relcasably engaging an intermediate stage of the speed changing gear train and adapted when engaged to stop the rotation of the gear train, a solenoid connected to the radio receiver and adapted when energized by the radio receiver to disengage the arresting mechanism and thereby initiate the audible alarm cycle, an alarm cycle timing mechanism operated by the first stage of the speed changing gear train and adapted to maintain said arresting mechanism out of engagement with said intermediate St ge for a predetermined length of time after initiation of the audible alarm cycle, and a visual indicator adapted to show whether the device has received a radio signal.

limit means limiting the rotation of the main spring rewinding means, ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain the main spring in the wound condition, audible signal means comprising a diaphragm adapted to produce an audible signal when vibrated and diaphragm vibrator means connected to said diaphragm for vibrating said diaphragm, an escape wheel mounted on the shaft of the last stage of the speed changing gear train, a pivoted oscillator member mounted on the main frame, said oscillator member being provided with a pair of escapement pins adapted alternately to engage the teeth of the escape wheel when said escape wheel rotates and being further provided with striker means adapted to strike the diaphragm vibrator when said oscillator member is caused to oscillate by said escape wheel, a notched arresting drum mounted on the shaft of an intermediate stage of the speed changing gear train, a pivoted arresting lever one end of which is adapted to engage the notched arresting drum and to prevent rotation of the gear train when thus engaged, spring means urging the pivoted arresting lever into engagement with the notched arresting drum, a solenoid adapted when energized to disengage the pivoted arresting lever from the notched arresting drum, a timing cam mounted on the shaft of the first stage of the speed changing gear train, a pivoted timing lever, spring means maintaining said timing lever in contact with said timing cam whereby rotation of said timing cam moves one end of the timing lever in a reciprocating path, said end of said timing lever being provided with a leg adapted to contact the pivoted arresting lever, said leg of said timing lever maintaining the pivoted arresting lever out of engagement with the notched arresting drum when said timing cam moves the timing lever to one end of its reciprocating path of travel and said foot portion allowing said arresting lever to engage said notched arresting drum when said timing cam moves said timing lever to the other end of its reciprocating path of travel, the rotation of the timing cam and the resulting reciprocating movement of the timing lever being correlated with the rotation of the arresting drum so that the timing lever is withdrawn from contact with the arresting lever and the arresting lever engages the notched arresting drum at the end of a predetermined time from the start of the alarm cycle, an electric switch connected to said rewinding means, said electric switch being opened when said rewinding means is rotated in the direction to rewind the main spring and being closed when said rewinding means is rotated in the opposite direction, a visual indicator mounted on the shaft of the first stage of the gear train in frictional engagement with said shaft, limit stops positioned to limit the rotation of the visual indicator, visual indicator reset means connected to the rewinding means adapted to rotate said indicator means against one of said indicator limit stops when said rewinder means is rotated in the direction to wind the main spring.

5. A signalling device comprising a main frame, a main spring, a multi-stage speed changing gear train connected to the main spring, said gear train comprising a main spring drive gear and at least three stages of speed increasing gears connected thereto, rotatable rewinding means connected to the main spring and adapted to wind the main spring when rotated in one direction, limit means limiting the rotation of the main spring rewinding means, ratchet and pawl means adapted to maintain the main spring in the Wound condition, audible signal means comprising a diaphragm adapted to produce an audible signal when vibrated and diaphragm vibrator means connected to said diaphragm for vibrating said diaphragm, an escape wheel mounted on the shaft of the last stage of the speed changing gear train, a pivoted oscillator member mounted on the main frame, said oscillator member being provided with a pair of escapement pins adapted alternately to engage the teeth of the escape wheel when said escape wheel rotates and being further provided with striker means adapted to strike the diaphragm vibrator when said oscillator member is caused to oscillate by said escape wheel, a notched arresting drum mounted on the shaft of an intermediate stage of the speed changing gear train, a pivoted arresting lever one end of which is adapted to engage the notched arresting drum and to prevent rotation of the gear train when thus engaged, spring means urging the pivoted arresting lever into engagement with the notched arresting drum, a solenoid adapted when energized to disengage the pivoted arresting lever from the notched arresting drum, and an electric switch connected to said rewinding means, said electric switch being opened when said rewinding means is rotated in the direction to rewind the main spring and being closed when said rewinding means is rotated in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 821,581 Beame et al. May 22, 1906 1,677,790 McKinley July 17, 1928 2,053,859 Whitehead et al. Sept. 8, 1936 

